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Our Grandmothers in Literature. 51 



Or worse, to feel a tyrant's sway. 
May such alone be unprotected 

By justice, and by nature's laws, 
And to despotic powers subjected, 

Suffer the miseries they cause. 
To scorn them is each maiden's duty, 

Let them no children have nor wife, 
May they ne'er meet the smiles of beauty, 

Nor any social charms of life. 

Among the writers of these early times Susanna Rowson was a nota- 
ble exception in that she forsook hymn writing and the manufacturing 
of moral tales, and ventured to tell the love story of Charlotte Temple. 
That she told it well is proved by the fact that in old Trinity Church 
yard one often sees fresh flowers laid on the supposed grave of the un- 
fortunate heroine. The hero, or the villain, as you will, is drawn in 
strongest colors. We are told " he paid little heed to moral duties and 
less to religious ones, that he was eager in the pursuit of pleasure, mind- 
ing not the miseries inflicted on others "—finally that " he was dissipated, 
thoughtless and capricious." Ah, well-a-day, and yet Charlotte loved 
him! 

Thus our grandmothers in the days when to make one's mark was a 
distinction, made their mark in the literature of the day, while we, their 
grandchildren, who bake less bread, dip fewer candles and spin no thread 
at all, thank them heartily for their pioneer work on song and story. 



k *IHiniw!Itini@ ©f the Cablet 



BY CORNELIA W. RANKIN, 
It 

Historian for Quassaick Chapter, D. A. R. 

During the severe winter of 1708-1709, a little party of pilgrims sailed 
up Hudson's river and landed at what was then and is now called Quas- 
saick Creek, a short distance south of the city of Newburgh. The little 
band were weary and impoverished after their wanderings, and very 
beautiful and restful must these green hills and broad river have seemed, 
reminding them of their dearly loved Rhine; for they had fled from the 
Palatinate, a strip of territory lying along that river, including what 
is now known as Bavaria. They were the subjects of religious persecu- 
tion at the hands of the French king, who was continually at war with 
the neighboring countries. 

When Louis XIY gave orders for the destruction of this prosperous 
community, some of the inhabitants fled to England, where they were 
supplied with funds, and then started for America where they sought 
both religious and political freedom. 

They were given possession of a tract of 2,200 acres of land lying on 
the west side of the river and north of Quassaick creek, and this settle- 
ment took the name of " The Palatine Parish of Quassaick." The lands 
granted included 500 acres set apart as a Glebe for the support of a 
minister, the term Glebe being derived from an old English word mean- 
ing land surrounding and belonging to a parish church. 

These early pioneers were a law-abiding and industrious people. In 
the Palatinate they had founded a Lutheran Church, their minister, Rev. 
Joshua de Kockerthal, came with them, but did not locate at Quassaick, 
a larger flock requiring his attention in Northern Ulster; nevertheless 
they had more or less ministerial attention by itinernant Lutheran preach- 
ers, and erected for their accommodation a humble edifice on the Glebe, 
which, after occupation for over half a century for religious purposes,- 
was ultimately converted into a school house, for what was known as 
the "Glebe School." In this occupation it remained until time anil the 
elements worked ils dtreiy, and led to its removal about the year 1845. 

It was to mark the site of the original church that Quassaick Chap- 
ter, in the presence of invited friends, members of other Chapters, the 
ministers of the city and interested citizens of the town, unveiled a hand- 
some bronze tablet, in the Old Town Burying Ground, on the afternoon 
of Memorial Day, 1800. They assembled at the Palatine Hotel and, with 
the members of the Historical Society and representatives of other Chap- 
ters, proceeded in a body to the cemetery, at the entrance of which, and 
aear the platform erected under the trees, was a detail of soldiers from 



Unveiling of Tablet on Site of Old Palatine Chuech. 53 



the National Guard. The stand was draped with the American flag and 
adorned with flowers, and on it were seated: The orator of the day, Gen- 
eral Horatio King, of Brooklyn; Mayor B. B. Odell; Rev. Rufus Emery, 
President of the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands; 
the Rev. William Junge, pastor of the Lutheran Church; Rev. 'William 
K. Hall, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church; Mr. Russel 
Headley, Mr. A. Y. Weller, Mr. E. M. Ruttenber, and Mr. William Van- 
amee, master of ceremonies. After a few appropriate remarks by Mr. 
Vanamee, Rev. Mr. Junge offered prayer, and a well trained chorus of 
twenty Voices followed with the beautiful selection, " Angel of Peace." 

Mr. Russel Headley in well chosen words introduced General King, 
who spoke of the great work accomplished by the Daughters of the 
American Revolution and kindred societies, and dwelt at length upon the 
stirring events of the present time and the new and perplexing problems 
brought for our solution in the recent war. At the conclusion of his ad- 
dress, the assemblage joined heartily with the choir in singing " America." 

Mrs. Nellie Maltby Shipp, Regent of Quassaick Chapter, then present- 
ed the memorial tablet to the Mayor and Commissioners of the Old Town 
Cemetery, and in fitting words spoke of the work to which the Daughters 
had pledged themselves in rescuing from oblivion places of historic in- 
terest, in fostering the spirit of patriotism and in work of the present, as 
well as the past, as exemplified in the experience of the alleviation of 
suffering and hardship during the late war. In accepting the memorial 
in behalf of the Mayor and the Commissioners of the Old Town Burying 
Ground, Rev. Dr. Hall referred to the enduring character of the memorial 
tablet and its significance in creating a deep interest in perpetuating the 
deeds of the " forefathers of the hamlet." In a few words addressed to 
the Daughters present, he said: "You are thus, in this commemorative 
act, giving a noble and abiding expression to the truth of the motto 
chosen for the seal of your Chapter, ' Dignus virtute avorum.' This act is 
a signal proof that your organization exists, not for merely cultivating a 
pride in having an ancestry who by their labors, sufferings and sacrifices 
won and bequeathed to us these free institutions of our beloved land, but 
above all else to cherish and perpetuate the memories of their virtues." 

After the band had played a selection, Mr. Vanamee introduced the 
Rev. Rufus Emery, President of the Historical Society, which had shown 
an active interest in tile undertaking. After some earnest remarks, Rev. 
Mr. Emery pronounced the benediction. The audience having joined 
in singing " The Star Spangled Banner," were dismissed, and thus ended 
the ceremonies attending the first work of public importance inaugurated 
by the Daughters of the American Revolution, in placing a record in en- 
during stone to preserve the memory of past events, and to serve as an 
example of work of equal historic interest to be accomplished in the 
future. 

Granite posts connected by chains mark the limits of the plot where 
stood the church of the Palatine forefathers, aud in the centre stands a 



54 



Historical Papers. 



boulder, conveyed from the neighboring hills, bearing the tablet. In the 
upper left hand corner is the insignia of the Society and below in raised 
letters, is this inscription: 

" On this Glebe site was erected, about 1730, the Lutheran Church 
of the Palatine Parish of Quassaick, Rev. Michael Christian, Knoll, 
pastor. From July ir>, 1747, Lev. Hezekiah "Watkins, of the Church 
of England, held services fo" about twenty-five years. Erected by 
Quassaick Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1S99." 




PALATINE CHURCH. 1 730. 










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